Spain lines up Brimstone missile and naval helicopter orders for 2023

Spanish Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons are to be equipped with MBDA Brimstone air-to-surface missiles (Spanish Ministry of Defense/EMAD)

MADRID — The Spanish Ministry of Defense plans on awarding production contracts to industry for Brimstone air-to-surface missiles and new naval helicopters in 2023, military and industry officials said this week.

An acquisition to replace Spanish Navy SH-60B rotorcraft has already received interest from Airbus, offering an adapted NH90 Sea Lion helicopter, which is already in service with Germany.

Meanwhile, the Brimstone missile will eventually be equipped on Spanish Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons, adding to an existing arsenal that includes GBU-10 and GBU-16 Paveway bombs, AIM-120B AMRAAM, Meteor and IRIS-T munitions.

“Hopefully, by the end of next year we will be able to carry Brimstone, which Spain is acquiring,” said Lt. Col. Jesus Salazar Ortiz de Landazuri, 14th Wing Air Group Commander, during the annual Airbus Trade Media Briefing held here this week. Breaking Defense accepted airfare and accommodation courtesies for the event.

He explained that the acquisition is expected to be supported by the UK’s Royal Air Force, as the weapon was originally developed for that service.

After a contract has been signed with European missile manufacturer MBDA, Spain’s Weapons and Experimentation Logistics Center (CLAEX) will then work on acquiring an initial implementation certification, leading to an operational evaluation, according to Ortiz de Landazuri.

“We will schedule some events in order to check that what we receive matches our vision because the unit in Madrid (CLAEX) does not develop TTPs,” he explained, referring to tactics, techniques and procedures. MBDA declined to comment on the Brimstone acquisition.

Weighing 50 kilograms, the weapon offers an “all weather” capability and is fitted with an “advanced” dual mode seeker, according to MBDA company literature. Spanish Air Force Eurofighter fleets from the 11th Fighter Wing at Morón Air Base, Seville and the 14th Tactical Fighter Wing at Albacete Air Base, Castile-La Mancha will both receive the weapon.

As plans currently stand, the 20 Eurofighters under order from Airbus as part of the €2 billion ($2.12 billion) Halcon program designed to replace Spanish Air Force F-18s based on the Canary Islands, will not be equipped with the missile.

Meanwhile, as the Spanish Navy readies to replace Sikorsky SH-60B helicopters, a selection decision should be made in 2023, according to Jean-Eric Vague, naval and maritime missions specialist at Airbus.

“A process is underway at the moment and Airbus with NHI [NHIndustries] is proposing a naval configuration of the NH90,” he added.

The NH90’s reputation has suffered significantly in recent months after Sweden and Norway both decided to cancel their respective programs citing poor availability rates.

At a capability level, Vague noted however that the adapted NH90 on offer to Spain would be superior to the SH-60B in terms of endurance, lethality, cabin size and sonar integration.

Airbus imagery for the helicopter includes the helicopter equipped with Thales-made Folding Light Acoustic System for Helicopters (FLASH) low frequency dipping sonar and weapons options such as Mk-46 and Mk-54 Torpedos, as well as the Spike multipurpose missile.

“They [Spanish Navy] have asked for local content [to be included in our offer] but not a dedicated percentage,” Vague said of competition requirements.

Should Airbus go on to receive a production contract, full development of the new helicopter would be finished in 2027, according to the manufacturer.